Sophia’s POV
Mr Prescott’s bedroom was slightly larger than mine and almost identical save for the absolute lack of color in his room, from his dark curtains to his black on white beddings.
“You can take the bed, I’ll take the sofa.” Mr Prescott announced gruffly as he grabbed a pillow from the bed and an extra blanket from his closet to place on the couch.
I looked at the comfortable looking but small couch. It would be cramped for him.
“It’s your room, I can-” I began to object but Mr Prescott didn’t let me finish, his gray gaze firm and intractable.
“I wasn’t making a suggestion, Miss Evergreen.”
I would have argued against him ordering me around but oh well. If Mr Prescott intended to sleep in such a cramped condition, who was I to stop him?
I was turning down the bed, trying to pass the time till Mr Prescott had his shower so I could have mine when I heard his voice from behind me.
“Thank you, Miss Evergreen.”
I paused, my hand still on the sheets.
“Why are you thanking me?”
Mr Prescott was silent for a moment before responding.
“For not hurting Nana.”
I couldn’t sleep till later that night even after my shower.
Maybe it was because I was in a different bed with Mr Prescott’s scent all over me or maybe it was because I knew nothing between Mr Prescott and I had been resolved.
It wasn’t that I had started having strong feelings for him but that feeling of possessiveness I had felt at the office scared me.
I had no right to feel that way just because he had become more friendly towards me and less businesslike. This marriage was just an arrangement, a contract.
If I lost sight of that very important fact, this would be like Jerry all over again.
When I woke up in the morning, Mr Prescott was no longer on the couch. The blanket was carefully folded off to the side and the pillow was back on the bed.
I pushed down the irrational pang of disappointment I felt about him leaving before we could talk.
Climbing out of bed, I stretched. I had not moved up to two steps away from the bed when I caught sight of a picture of Mr Prescott on top of the bed stand.
Unable to hold back my curiosity, I picked up the frame.
In the picture, Mr Prescott wasn’t on a buzzcut as usual but with shoulder length dark hair that triggered-
“What are you doing Miss Evergreen?” Mr Prescott asked, his voice coming from right behind me.
Startled, I jumped, tripping and nearly falling in the process. Until I held on to something instinctively to catch myself.
Mr Prescott’s towel wrapped around his tapered damp waist.
Mr Prescott’s eyes widened almost comically with surprise then everything went to hell as the force with which I had held on to the towel caused it to unravel.
Yelping, I let go of his towel and landed on the ground on my butt before urgently turning my back to Mr Prescott, my cheeks burning as I heard the sound of his towel landing on the ground behind me.
For a moment, I was certain the world was going to end and the ground would just open up and swallow me to save me from this embarrassment.
In a split second, the moment was over and I could hear Mr Prescott picking up his towel like nothing had happened.
“I’m so sorry.” I blurted out, with my back still turned to him.
“It’s fine.” Mr Prescott didn’t sound bothered but I couldn’t say the same for myself.
My mortification at almost seeing Mr Prescott naked wasn’t completely gone when I stepped out of the study hours later after my class for the day ended.
If I closed my eyes or let myself drift for even a second, I would see him as I had in that brief second before his towel began to unravel.
Towering over me shirtless, his hair wet and slicked back away from his face, those gray eyes framed by dark lashes watching me succinctly, water dripping from his chest to down his nipples to his clearly defined abs and down that tapered waistline to-
“I was hoping we could have a talk.” The sound of Nana’s voice brought me back to myself and I realized she had been standing just a few feet away while I had been getting lost in my memory of Mr Prescott.
My cheeks burned uncontrollably and for the second time that day, I wanted nothing more than for the ground to open up and swallow me.
Great going, Sophia.
Within minutes, Nana and I were back in the study.
She took her seat comfortably, an understanding almost maternal smile on her face.
“So how have you been settling into your married life?” She asked.
Last night was the first night I had spent in my contract husband’s room and I was fairly certain if I spent any more time with him, my heart might be at risk.
Obviously, I couldn’t tell her that.
“It’s been an adjustment but I’ve settled in fine.” I said after clearing my throat.
Nana’s kind smile stayed even as her words sharpened.
“Compared to your previous marriage, I take it, it must be better seeing as you married my grandson right on the heels of your divorce with his half brother.”